February 5, 2008
off to california on saturday for the office developer’s conference
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This Saturday I’m putting on my traveler’s hat and heading for San Jose, California, for the Microsoft Office Developer’s Conference, 2008.
Here’s a page on the reasons people attend:
–Take a deep dive into the real world product and deployment experience and guidance about the Microsoft Office System products and technologies since Office 2007 came to market.
–Expand your thinking by learning about Office Business Applications and how Office as an application development platform is revolutionizing the software development landscape.
–Learn key software architecture patterns for designing and building Office Business Applications.
I’ve been commissioned by Microsoft to basically walk around the place, talk to people, and draw cartoons. The doodling equivalent to Gonzo Journalism, I guess you could say.
From a personal standpoint, I like hanging with the Microsoft people. Because [A] they’ve got so much going on all the time and [B] they’re very, very smart people, there’s a lot for me to learn. I’ve already done the “Art” thing in spades. I like the totally contrasting, somewhat naive foray into tech.
There are rumors I might get to meet Bill Gates. That would be interesting.
Then I’m off to Texas for a week or two to visit my father, who I’ve not seen for a while. Then I’m in Las Vegas for Mix ’08 in early March.
I’m really looking forward to being back on the road again, after a month or two off in Cumbria.
I seem to have two sides of my personality. One is the hyper-social side, where I get on a plane and meet and talk with lots of people, again and again.… then I burn out and head back to Cumbria, and play recluse for a while, and recharge my batteries.
James Joyce once said that a writer needs three things– Silence, Exile, and Cunning. I suppose my Cumbrian-Globetrotting mix is my way of achieving exactly that. Rock on.
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Tags: Bill Gates, California, Cartoon Drawings, Hugh MacLeod, Microsoft, Microsoft Office Developer's Conference
Who the heck wrote that page (reasons people attend)? Are we living in 1990?
I love Microsoft (I know, not a popular stance) but fuck me, if a marketing person wrote that, they need to be shot.
That first bullet point is like a sleeping pill. I despair.
“silence, exile and cunning” i think…mind you, solitude can’t hurt
You’re right, Vinnie. Changed. Thanks
There’s the reasons they give people to attend (the “marketing” side) and the reasons people actually attend (the “sociology/anthropology” side). Might be some good cartoons to be drawn around the latter.
I wonder how long it will be until MS “borrows” your idea and offers us a product that creates cartoons on the back of our business cards?
Convince the average CIO to love Microsoft’s products. At the moment, they have them ‘cos they’re good enough and don’t give them a ton of pain. Go from there.
BTW — accidentally found the secret of getting TONS of page view. Write a) Apple sux or b) BillG walks on water.
“You have to eat well, be well housed, have a screw from time to time, smoke your pipe and drink your coffee in peace” — Vincent VanGogh
Hugh– Congrats– sounds like great fun. I know you will add energy and excitement to the Microsoft mix. I look forward to hearing the highlights
Hugh,
If you are passing through Phoenix look me up. I can at least offer you a home-cooked meal.